If you are in Las Vegas, NV or the surrounding area, you know how crucial it is that your air conditioning is working to the best of its ability. Air conditioning can be complex, with a number of components that can often be overlooked yet are vital for proper comfort. One of these factors is the proper sizing of your ductwork. At Bumble Breeze, we understand how necessary proper cooling is in a Las Vegas home, so we want to take you through the basics of choosing the right-size ducts.
Having the wrong size ductwork can severely compromise your system. If the ducts you choose are too small, your HVAC system winds up needing to use more energy, which could result in higher utility bills than necessary. There is also the possibility of a system’s shortened lifespan. Having ductwork that is too large installed could result in a reduction in air velocity. It could make enough of a difference in airflow that you may not even feel the air venting into some rooms. By having one of our professionals at Bumble Breeze evaluate your current system or a potential replacement, you can be sure that you have well-designed ductwork that allows you to get the most out of your HVAC system.
Factors That Go Into Correct Duct Sizing
If anyone tells you that ductwork sizing is something that you’re going to want to do yourself, don’t listen to them. There are numerous factors involved, so it should only be done by a professional technician.
Here are some of the things that get factored in when properly sizing ductwork for a home:
- Square footage
- Cubic feet per minute
- Friction loss rate
These concepts are involved enough that it’s worth explaining each of them in a bit of detail.
Square Footage
In determining the right size of ductwork for your home, our technicians will measure your home in order to find its square footage. To save time, they may look at a blueprint of the residence, as long as its accuracy can be verified. You likely remember from math class that square footage involves taking the length and width of something and then multiplying it together. This is done for every room and then added together to get the square footage of the entire home.
Cubic Feet Per Minute
Finding the necessary cubic feet per minute for choosing the right size of ductwork involves multiplying the HVAC system’s size in tons by 400. The CBM is found by dividing that number by the square footage of the home.
Friction Loss Rate
While square footage and cubic feet per minute might sound easy enough for a layperson to do, the need to determine the friction loss rate is a big reason why this should only be dealt with by a qualified technician. The friction loss rate refers to the loss of pressure in a channel. Getting the proper reading involves registers, dampers, turns, filters, grilles, duct length, and more. Friction loss rate can have a significant impact on the airflow of your ductwork and should not be overlooked. The accuracy of the measurements is integral to an efficient system, and the process of obtaining these measurements is much more intricate than CBM or square footage.
Signs of Improperly Sized Ductwork
If you are concerned that your current ductwork may be sized improperly, there are some signs that you can look out for.
Short Cycling
If you notice that your HVAC system is regularly turning off before fully completing a cycle, this means that it’s short cycling. This is a result of the thermostat signaling the system to turn on. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t wind up running long enough to hit the proper temperature.
Short cycling can have negative effects on your HVAC system. For one, it reduces energy efficiency. It also leaves your home feeling uncomfortable since it can’t maintain the desired temperature. Since short cycling puts wear and tear on your system, it could lead to pricey repairs and a shortened lifespan of the HVAC system. Finally, you could be looking at a reduction in air quality when cycles are shortened since there isn’t enough time for the air to properly filter.
If you are experiencing shortened cycling, the fault may be with improperly sized ducts.
High Energy Bills
If you have discussed your energy bill with neighbors that have similarly designed homes and it appears that your bill is significantly higher despite similar usage, there is a possibility that your ductwork is improperly sized.
Humidity
If you have noticed that there is an excessive amount of moisture in your home, it could be the size of your ductwork. When ductwork is not properly sized, it can be more difficult for your HVAC system to remove moisture from the air, despite it having a dehumidifying feature. This results in it not being able to keep up with the amount of humidity being produced by the space. In turn, you wind up with an increased indoor humidity level.
Odd Noises
If you are hearing strange noises coming from your ducts, this may be a sign of improperly sized ductwork. For example, a typical sound that is encountered when ductwork is too small is popping. This popping sound is a result of your ducts being extremely sensitive to changes in pressure. In some cases, you can actually see the ducts expanding and contracting during a cycle, along with the popping noise.
Another sound that is typical of having the wrong size ductwork installed is whistling. Whistling typically happens when there is an excessive amount of airflow working its way through your ducts. This issue can often rear its head after a new furnace installation. Homeowners may select a new furnace that has more power than the current ductwork can handle. This may eventually force you to downgrade to a less powerful furnace or alter the size of your ductwork.
Your Las Vegas Ductwork Team
If you are in Las Vegas or the surrounding area, our team is ready to help you choose the right ductwork for your home. Whether it is a new construction needing its first ductwork installation or replacing your existing ductwork, we can help. Our team provides the community with quality work, exceptional products, and exemplary customer service. Best of all, we offer all of this to our customers at an affordable price. You can be confident that when a team member from Bumble Breeze comes into your home, you are getting a technician who is professionally trained, certified, and background checked. Our services do not end with ductwork sizing, either. We are experts at serving all manner of heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality needs.
Our locally owned company started in 2018, and since then we have been there for our customers at every turn. Give Bumble Breeze a call today to see what we can do for you and your loved ones with our duct services.
